# Yong

/ˈjɔŋ/ (US) · CEFR A1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/yong
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

having lived for only a short time; not old.

For teachers: being in an early stage of life, growth, or development. Often used to describe people, animals, or plants that have not yet reached maturity.

## Pitfalls

- Not "the youngs" but "the young" — When referring to young people as a group, 'young' acts as a collective noun and does not take an 's'.

## Usage notes

- Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'.

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